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The Sixth Glass
Kansas City, Missouri
BJCP Category: 18E Belgian Dark Strong Ale
Boulevard Brewing Co. <visit site>
45
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[expand]Total Score: 46/50
Peppery phenols with substantial alcohol up front. Prune and raisin esters follow up. more >
[close]Total Score: 46/50
Aroma: Peppery phenols with substantial alcohol up front. Prune and raisin esters follow up. Light floral, spicy hop aroma. Malt takes a back seat to the fermentation products but does come through as a light Munich malt-like melanoidin and caramel note. No DMS or diacetyl. Fragrant and inviting. (11/12)
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Appearance: Amber color with mahogany highlights. Somewhat hazy; OK for the style. Big, dense, tan, long-lasting head. (3/3)
Flavor: Munich malt-like melanoidins with considerable caramel notes, lots of dark, pit-fruit esters (raisins, prunes, figs), and considerable alcohol. Peppery and slightly clove-like phenols balance and complement the esters well. Very light floral/spicy hop flavor. Moderate hop bitterness balances the malt sweetness, leaving a somewhat dry finish. No DMS or diacetyl. No hot fusel alcohols. (18/20)
Mouthfeel: Creamy, smooth, with noticeable alcohol warming. Well attenuated with a medium body. No astringency or lingering bitterness in mouthfeel. Generous carbonation. (5/5)
Overall Impression: Very well balanced and enjoyable. On target for the style. Esters, phenols, hops, malt, and alcohol all come together to create a balanced and very drinkable Belgian dark strong ale in the Trappist style. Excellent beer to have with well-aged cheddar or roasted pork, beef, or wild game that would hold up to this bold beer. (9/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 44/50
Strong caramel maltiness with hints of peppery plum, dark fruit esters, and no hop aroma. Ripe Bartlett pear esters emerge on a swirl of the glass. more >
[close]Total Score: 44/50
Aroma: Strong caramel maltiness with hints of peppery plum, dark fruit esters, and no hop aroma. Ripe Bartlett pear esters emerge on a swirl of the glass. (10/12)
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Appearance: Glass initially fills with a creamy, biscuit-like light tan foam, which drops out slowly to a burnished gold copper, very clear beer. (3/3)
Flavor: Bready, light caramel rich maltiness up front followed by a burnt sugar, dark dried prune fruitiness and light pepper note. Midway, a light saltiness emerges. No hop flavor, though a barely detectable bitterness provides balance. Finishes rich, with a low, lingering toasted caramel note, and clean. Ripe peach and pear esters emerge mid-palate, fade, then return at the finish. (17/20)
Mouthfeel: Full bodied with low, softish carbonation. No astringency. Alcohol warmth starts at moderate level, grows stronger and lingers on the tongue. A light acidity gives an impression of a crisp, clean finish. (5/5)
Overall Impression: Rich and malty, but very fruity and complex; a blend of dried peach, dried prunes, and toasty caramel malt. Very dessert-like. Would go quite well with peach cobbler and vanilla ice cream, if one were in the mood. (9/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 46/50
Complex aroma, with a cornucopia of toasted malt and yeast components that echo the BJCP style guidelines. The fermentation notes include peppery phenols, with lower levels of clove as well as light bubble more >
[close]Total Score: 46/50
Aroma: Complex aroma, with a cornucopia of toasted malt and yeast components that echo the BJCP style guidelines. The fermentation notes include peppery phenols, with lower levels of clove as well as light bubble gum esters. Raisin and stone fruit notes are evident and balanced, and I pick up the dark candi notes found in classic examples of the style. (10/12)
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Appearance: Copper color with mahogany highlights and a dense head that takes several minutes to drop to half the initial height. Some yeast was roused when it was poured, but that is partly due to my impatience in tasting it before it had settled after shipping. (3/3)
Flavor: Great depth of flavors, starting with a rich malt character that displays toasted, toffee, and nutty components. Classic notes of raisins, figs, and other dark fruits but without any burnt, roasted or bitter notes. Fermentation character is complex—mainly peppery phenols, but also vanilla, floral esters, and just a hint of tutti frutti. (18/20)
Mouthfeel: Great carbonation and conditioning are key components of this style, and this example is on the mark. The mouthfeel is full, without being gassy, and the residual sugars that linger on the palate are not too sweet. The alcohol warmth is evident, but much softer than most beers with this alcohol content. (5/5)
Overall Impression: This was a wonderful beer, with nearly perfect balance and a spectrum of malt and fermentation flavors that yield complex aromas and flavors, from start to finish. This could hold its own against any classic example of the style. (10/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 45/50
Fruity, with ripe cherries and berries. Toasty malt. Spicy, pepper-like phenols. more >
[close]Total Score: 45/50
Aroma: Fruity, with ripe cherries and berries. Toasty malt. Spicy, pepper-like phenols. Fleshy fruit notes, like pears and apples. Intense aroma, but not with deeper notes of dark malts or dried fruits. Slightly floral and rose-like. Some sweetness. Complex and interesting, unmistakably “Belgian” character. (11/12)
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Appearance: Very deep amber color. Slightly hazy. Huge rocky beige head, persisted well. (3/3)
Flavor: Toasty, bready malt; rich without being sweet. Medium bitterness. Dry finish. Aftertaste is malty-fruity with a noticeable alcohol character. Has a rose-like expression that enhances the fruitiness. Extraordinarily well-balanced. Fruity notes (cherries, pear, and a bit of banana) are strong but blend well with the other flavors. Spicy accents. (18/20)
Mouthfeel: High carbonation. Medium-full body. Warming alcohol, more apparent in the aftertaste. Very deceptive in its strength. Smooth. (4/5)
Overall Impression: Kind of reminds me of Rochefort or Westvleteren beers, with the fruit-forward character. Doesn’t have some of the “darker”character (dark fruit and malts) of some examples but is very complex and interesting nonetheless, certainly within the style range. Nicely dry and drinkable. The complexity is outstanding, even without the darker components. Should still improve with time; I recommend cellaring for a year or two. I enjoyed this one greatly; a touch more age would make this nearly perfect. (9/10)
